Twenty five representatives of utilities and energy authorities from all GCC states as well as from GCC Interconnection Authority are participating in the EU Study tour on “Electricity Interconnections and Markets” organised by the EU GCC Clean Energy Technology Network in cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority (GCC IA). The study tour, already successfully in its third day, takes place from 2-5 July in Belgium and Germany and aims to facilitate the exchange of experiences and know-how among EU and GCC stakeholders.

“Cooperation between the EU and the GCChas been strong and long standing since1988. The two regions face common challenges in the context of the clean energy transition and in this context there are many opportunities for concrete partnerships and for exchange of knowledge and lessons learnt aiming to meet our energy targets”. said Massimo Lombardini, Policy Officer at the Directorate General for Energy, European Commission in his address during the introductory workshop, on Monday, 2 July in Brussels. “We welcome the distinguished delegation of GCCenergy experts in Europe for this technical study tour and we hope that the next four days will highlight cooperation prospects and will prepare future partnerships.”

The GCC delegation includes representatives from OMANGRID, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority ADWEC, TRANSCO United Arab Emirates, Dubai Electricity and Water authority, Sharjah Electricity and Water authority, Saudi Electricity Company, National Grid of Saudi Arabia, Electricity and Water Authority of Bahrain, Qatar General Electricity & Water Corporation ”KAHRAMAA”, Ministry of Electricity & Water Kuwait and the GCC Interconnection Authority

“The GCC member states have set ambitious renewable energy targets aiming to reduce their dependence on traditional fossil fuels with clean and renewable energy, coupled with reforms of government-based subsidies on fuel, thus providing multi-billion savings to all GCC states over the next 20 years. The GCC Interconnection can play key role in mitigating renewable energy sources intermittency and can enable cross-border balancing and sharing of reserves. Moreover, the GCC states perceive that its Power Grid could be expanded beyond the GCC region to exchange and trade energy with other interconnected regions aligned with the economic strategy of the Gulf Cooperation Council to interlink the electricity systems of the six member states, it also strives to expand this interconnection to other regions around the world. In this process, we consider that sharing lessons learnt and best practices with the EU on interconnections and electricity markets is valuable.” says Dr Nasser Al Shahrani COO of the GCC Interconnection Authority.

“We are honoured to cooperate with the GCC Interconnection Authority for the organisation of this study tour bringing in Europe such a high level delegation of experts . The study tour is a very interactive and fruitful experience where we learn from each other and have the opportunity to discuss on future concrete partnerships.” notes Frank Wouters, Director of Network.

The agenda of the study tour includes a number of training workshops, high level exchanges with as well as visits to EU organisations and industries, including DG Energy, CORESO, ENTSOe, EUROPEX, T&D Europe, SolarPower Europe, Uniper SE / RWTH Aachen, RWE etc.